In an atmosphere characterised by mistrust, the United States is unlikely to be readily impressed with North Korea’s assurance that it is open to relinquishing nuclear weapons.
Considering the recent spate of missile tests ~ the volley has been suitably matched with Kim Jong-un’s bluster ~ words alone can scarcely be enough to convince the world, least of all Washington and Seoul about the enduring sincerity of Pyongyang’s signal of intent.
It would be presumptuous to imagine quite yet that the North is chewing over a paradigm shift post the Winter Olympics in February, though visually President Kim appears to have mellowed to an extent.
It will be some time yet before the US enters into negotiations, let alone conclude an agreement which can have the potential to “write a new history of national reunification”, to summon Kim’s words.
Notably, Donald Trump has been remarkably guarded in his response, saying “possible progress is being made” in the context of the North’s offer to freeze its nuclear and missile programmes if the US comes to the negotiating table. “For the first time in many years, a serious effort is being made by all parties concerned. The world is watching and waiting!”
Indubitably, Pyongyang’s overture marks a dramatic easing of tensions in the region, if not across the Atlantic. North Korea has buttressed its statement of intent with President Kim’s decision to meet his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, in late April in the first summit of its kind in more than a decade.
The two leaders will hold talks at Panmunjom on the highly militarised border. Arguably, Kim is trying to effect a follow-through on his sister’s recent visit to the South, with its attendant bonhomie. The two sides have remained in a technical state of war since the 1950-53 Korean conflict.
Despite the reservations of the White House, the South has apparently concurred with Kim’s offer. Seoul is seemingly convinced that the North has affirmed its commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
A rare degree of optimism is manifest in the response of the presidential office ~ “The North will have no reason to possess nuclear weapons should the safety of its regime be guaranteed and military threats against North Korea removed.”
Manifest no less is the essay towards mending of fences across the Demilitarized Zone. Towards that end, the South and the North have agreed to set up a hotline between their leaders to allow close consultations and a reduction of military tension, while also agreeing to hold the first phone conversation before the third South-North summit.
What eventually transpires through the ether may be a matter of conjecture, but Tuesday’s forward movement is without question a major development in geopolitics.